Two Cardinals on the Centrality of the Right to Life in Politics

In his weekly column in The Catholic New World (Oct. 1-7, 2000),
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago wrote as follows: "Many people wish the issue
would disappear as a subject of public discussion. It can't disappear for
believing Catholics and many others because it is a matter of life and death, a
defining issue not only personally but socially. Poverty can be addressed
incrementally, but the death of a child is quite final.

"Capital punishment should be abolished because, among other reasons, we
cannot be absolutely certain that an innocent man or woman will not be executed.
In an abortion, one victim is always innocent." (Emphasis added)

Earlier this month, His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal López-Trujillo, President
of the Pontifical Council for the Family of The Holy See, also commented on this
matter. He stated: "A political leader… is an architect of society…without a
respect for life, all things fall apart. Political leaders must carry in their
own minds and hearts the defense of the right to life and offer it to the
community. Without this defense of life, the political leader, instead of
contributing to the construction of society, destroys it."